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In their place will stand 92 homes . Of these, 79 will be up for sale on the open market and 13 will be classed as affordable homes.

A leisure centre, artificial grass pitch, improvements to the school’s playing fields, a substation and car park will also go ahead.

At the same time the applicant, New Vision Homes , received outline planning permission to redevelop the whole 30 hectare site, known as the ‘red zone’.

This includes pulling down 576 homes, non-residential buildings and sports facilities, to be replaced with 922 homes, 62 residential institutions, such as childcare facilities, a community centre, nursery/children’s centre, retail units, and health centre.

The grass pitch planned in Sheerwater will be open to community use, when not in use by school children.

Chairman of the Sheerwater Residents’ Association Louise Kenrick told the committee the scale, density and loss of public open space formed the crux of objections, along with the fact that no other planning options being considered for the estate.

“It is significantly larger than the area identified in the 2027 core strategy document and includes building on the recreation ground which is public open space,” she said.

Miss Kenrick said an increase in traffic as a result of the plans would have a "major effect" on surrounding areas and that restricted access to school facilities at Bishop David Brown School and Egley Road were not sufficient.

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“Pocket parks and swales, small areas of grass, will not replace large playing fields,” she said.

“A higher density development with more light and noise pollution, increased traffic problems more potential flooding , less open green space and more demand on health and education facilities - this isn’t just another development money making machine this is our lives being impacted.”

Although not a member of the committee and unable to vote, Canalside councillor Mohammad Ali said there would be a 35% reduction in green space and questioned the buying power of residents who would be looking to purchase their homes following the nine year construction period.

“Egley Road happens to be about three to four miles away,” he said.

“I’m not going to walk three to four miles away to play football.”

For the first phase to go ahead, temporary access will be made through Spencer Close, until the close is removed at a later phase.